TEA Commissioner Williams's goal: EPISD must focus on teaching

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Michael Williams talked to educators, students, parents and others during a town hall meeting last year at the El Paso Community College Administrative Service Center Boardroom. He will attend EPISD's first board of managers meeting on May 7.

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Michael Williams, who replaced the El Paso Independent School District trustees with a board of managers, said Tuesday that he wants the district to get back to fundamental principles of teaching students.

"What I'm looking for is for those board managers to now go back to the business of the learning experience -- providing the best learning experience possible to those youngsters," Williams said in an exclusive interview with the El Paso Times.

The board of managers will be officially seated next week to replace the Board of Trustees, which had come under criticism for the way members responded to a cheating scheme orchestrated by former Superintendent Lorenzo García in which students' grades were manipulated to sidestep accountability measures. García is serving a 3å-year prison term for his involvement in the scheme and for directing a $450,000 no-bid contract to a mistress.

"First of all, let me say that I am so thrilled for the children, parents, teachers and administrators of El Paso ISD, who can now turn from a much more difficult time to a much, much brighter future," Williams said.

"It is my hope and my desire that a sense of confidence and trust by the public has been restored," he said.

Williams added: "I would say to the voters it is my sincere desire to be able to turn the governance of this district back to elected representation as soon as we possibly can."

The U.S. Department of Justice this week gave preclearance to Williams' decision to appoint the board of managers, who will assume the powers of the school board.

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He said he would allow the board of managers to develop its own working relationship, but would keep in touch with the members so they are clear on his expectations.

"I will have regular contact with these five board of managers. I will continue to have contact with individuals there in the community. I will continue to have conversations with your elected leadership such as your congressman, senator and House members who I have relied upon greatly in making my decisions."

The five-person board of managers can serve for up to two years under state law. The board of managers immediately assumed their authority.

El Paso voters on May 11 will decide whether three current trustees -- Rocio Benedicto, Alfredo Borrego and Joel Barrios -- return after the board of managers leaves. Williams acknowledged that whether those trustees remain on the board or other incumbents not up for election resign could factor into a return to elected officials before the two-year period ends.

"I will take into consideration that as well as all kinds of information. I much prefer not to (engage in) games of hypotheticals because we don't know how it's going to play out," he said.

Williams said he will attend the board of managers' meeting next week in part to meet with them.

Asked about benchmarks the district must meet before the board of managers turns its duties back over to elected trustees, Williams said he would monitor the district's progress.

It will be up to the board of managers to determine what role elected trustees will play in the meantime, he said. Trustees have no authority as long as the board of managers is in place.

Williams praised teachers and students for persevering through years of turmoil in the district.

"Folks have tried their best to continue to focus on the learning experience and providing high quality instruction to youngsters," Williams said. "Youngsters have tried to focus on being the best students they can be, but obviously this several-year episode has been a significant distraction to and for them. Now we can get back to principally focus on the learning experience."

Andrew Kreighbaum may be reached at andrew@elpasotimes.com; 546-6127. Follow him on Twitter @kreighbaum